Copy of How to Find a Therapist Part One: Asking, "How do I think?"

How do you think?

Therapy: Sometimes it seems as if the universe is a psychic river that sends you effortlessly to a therapist so perfect for you the relationship affirms a higher intelligence.

Therapy: Sometimes when you really need to find someone, it seems as if therapeutic access is cut off by a never ending string of voice mails that are never answered.

You want to try seeing a therapist. What should you do?

It seems that many people start with “what is wrong”. They ask, “Am I depressed, or anxious, do I have trauma or phobias?“ and then they look for a therapist who “specializes” in their "pathology".

But, these diagnoses are too vague to really indicate what approaches (or modalities) are the best for YOU! But there is a way: I would suggest thinking about how your mind works, and then finding a modality that relates best to how you work instead of seeking a fit based on pathology alone.

Here are some places to get started:

Are you a cut and dry person? Can you easily change your thoughts and behaviors when given the suggestion? Do you have a specific and limited thing to work on? Say a dog bite, or a fear of spiders? You might like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. (CBT) This kind of therapy identifies thoughts and behaviors for you to change, and suggests you change them.

Do you “tell a story” about yourself? Are you responsive when people point out your better attributes? When someone compliments you are you easily able to believe them, and feel good about what they’ve said? Are you open to the ways in which you’ve been affected by society or your culture? Is an equal partnership in the therapy important to you? (as in you are encouraged to be the expert in yourself) You might like Narrative Therapy. This kind of therapy encourages the therapist to see the client as the expert in themselves, but as well to listen for “the exceptions” to the clients story, so the client can begin to see where things are working in their life. Additionally Narrative therapy often puts the clients issues in the context of a broader social and cultural context which can help the client understand what is happening.

Is it possible you have long term complex trauma? Do you often have conflicts with people? If someone tells you to “not eat chocolate covered donuts” do you immediately want to eat four of them? When someone compliments you do you think they are trying to manipulate you? When you haven’t gotten a text from someone you are dating for a few days do you assume it’s over, or want to break up with them? You might benefit from working with an Analytic therapist. In this type of therapy, you are mirrored, reparented, and brought to change organically in a way that sticks. You are aided in building a solid self.

Are you sensitive to images, and your imagination? Do you find that you try to push away “bad thoughts” or that you don’t allow for different possible outcomes. You might like Jungian therapy. In this therapy, your therapist helps you build a self by welcoming your unwanted parts, and using imaginative imagery to assist the psyche in becoming more balanced.

I personally like to work integratively combining mainly Narrative, Analytic and Jungian therapies together (along with some trauma focussed CBT) to meet clients where they are and to help them go where they’d like to go.

I am currently accepting clients at my La Cienega Office at a sliding scale, I have daytime, evening and weekend slots available, on sliding scale and with the possibility of insurance super bill. Just message me here, or text me at (323)505-2638 to set up a meeting or a call. I see individuals, couples and families.